The WBL (The Women Business and the Law Index) index measures the economic empowerment of women. It is based on the countries’ formal laws and regulations that have a bearing on women’s economic participation, covering eight areas such as parenthood, equality of pay. It tracks how laws affect women at different stages in their working lives and focusing on those laws applicable in the main business city (“Women Business and the Law (WBL) Index 2020” 2020)
Political Empowerment is the area where women are severely under-represented.
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| Countries with no female suffrage | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Country | Region |
| 1990 | Kuwait | Middle East & North Africa |
| 1990 | Zanzibar | NA |
| 1992 | Kuwait | Middle East & North Africa |
| 1996 | Kuwait | Middle East & North Africa |
| 1999 | Kuwait | Middle East & North Africa |
| 2003 | Kuwait | Middle East & North Africa |
| 2017 | Somalia | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Countries with restricted female suffrage | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Country | Region |
| 2006 | United Arab Emirates | Middle East & North Africa |
| 2011 | United Arab Emirates | Middle East & North Africa |
| 2015 | United Arab Emirates | Middle East & North Africa |
| 2019 | United Arab Emirates | Middle East & North Africa |
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